Protest against attacks on Chittagong Buddhists

Colombo, Sri Lanka -- Member of the Parbatya Bikkhu Sanga, Bangladesh (Sri Lanka Branch) and student Peradeniya University student Dammapala Thera said Buddhists in the Chittagong Tracts of Bangladesh are facing great injustice for many years and have been targets of violence once again since February 19.

This follows protests by Buddhists against the illegal land grab done by Muslim settlers in the Chittagon Hill Tracts(CHTs) with the support of the Bangladesh military.

“Several people were killed and many were injured as a result of violence. Also many houses and some temples were burnt down by Muslim extremists during the past two weeks. Also hundreds of Buddhists, victims of violence were arrested by the military. Because of that, ” Ven Dhammapala Thera said.

The Thera was addressing a press conference at the National Library yesterday to inform the local media and Buddhists clergy about human rights violations and illegal land grabbing of indigenous Buddhists and other communities by the Bengali Muslim settlers with the help of the military forces in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) in Bangladesh.